(San Sebastián, 27 September 2010) Tomorrow, at Miramar Palace in San Sebastián, AZTI-Tecnalia and the Bureau for Biodiversity of the Spanish Ministry for the Natural, Rural and Marine Environments will be inaugurating the First Spanish Conference on Eels, which will be attended by over one hundred Spanish and European experts from a wide range of different organisations, including the scientific community, regional, state and European institutions and public administrations, river basin management organisations, CITES scientific authorities, fishermen, traders, aquiculture companies and conservation groups.

The conference is also supported by the Basque Government Department for the Environment, Spatial Planning, Agriculture and Fishing, the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council and the Basque Water Authority (URA).
During the course of the conference, participants will analyse the biological situation of the current stock, as well as its fishing, aquaculture and trading. The debate will also focus on the recovery plans established in Spain, and the management measures contemplated in them. Finally, speakers will also present the very latest research projects currently being carried out in relation to the species.

A species we must conserve

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla), an animal with one of the most interesting and hectic "biographies" in the world, is currently at a crucial moment for its survival. The recruitment* of eels in Europe has declined sharply over the last 25 years, which is why in 2007, the European Council of Ministers adopted a series of measures designed to aid the recovery of the European eel stock, as outlined in COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1100/2007. Moreover, as of 13 March 2009, the Eel has been included in Appendix II of the CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora), which lists all those species whose trading must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.

Although data exist from different areas of Spain which corroborate this alarming situation, so far no comprehensive study has been carried out of all the different aspects related to this species at a national level. Consequently, the Bureau for Biodiversity of the Spanish Ministry for the Natural, Rural and Marine Environments has asked AZTI-Tecnalia (a technology centre which specialises in marine and food-related research) to organise this first conference on eels with the aim of reviewing the biological situation of the species, as well as its exploitation in Spain.

For further information: www.azti.es/anguila

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